Moving to Oregon

[tamu07]

Hi,

My husband and I have been trying to move from Texas to Portland for a few months now. I need to have a full time job before I move. I graduated with my RN, BSN in December 2012. I worked as a med-surg nurse on a post-op trauma floor at a level two trauma center for 1 year and 7 months. Then I transferred to Pediatrics in the same hospital, and have been there for the past 11 months, it will be 1 year in August. I really don't want to leave the field, and since May, I have put my application out for several pediatric positions without any luck. I had one hospital call me about three weeks ago and say they would email me about setting up a video interview, but haven't heard form them since. Is it just going to be impossible to get a position without living there? My husband would be willing to live in the Salem area as well, but there just isn't much in the way of full time pedi positions that I'm finding. Would travel nursing be a better option?

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Doernbeckers at OHSU

Randall children's hospital at Legacy Emmanuel

Shriners children's hospital are the only 3 children's hospitals in Oregon and all are in Portland

There is also the Center for Medically Fragile Children on the Portland Providence campus

Providence St Vincent has a Peds unit and PICU

In Vancouver WA just across the river from Portland has peace health southwest which has a Peds floor

And I believe Salem hospital has a Peds floor.

I have no idea about travelers if that we be the way to go as I have been in Peds 4 yrs and have not worked with any travelers.

I would keep applying, my unit just hired 2 out of state nurses

Or apply to adults within a hospital system and after 6mth-1yr try to transfer

[tamu07]

Thanks for the input. I had actually applied to Legacy, Providence, Dorenbecher, and Shriners. I ended up getting video interviews with two of the hospitals, and one hospital flew me out for an in person interview, paid for everything. But, I ended up not getting that job I had three rounds of interviews with both facilities, haven't heard back yet from the second one, not extremely hopeful, but I am going to keep trying. I wish I could afford to move first, but can't justify taking such a huge financial risk when I am making really good money on my current pedi floor.

[Argo]

Hospitals out here have some of the most ridiculous hiring practices I have seen. Take a travel job, go ft in a transition from traveler. I work as a traveler in Springfield, live in Bend. I only work weekends and don't take call. New hires take forever to get hired, takes even longer for human resources to get their stuff together and get through their process. I'd guess it has something to do with being union and most hospitals are very corporate mega chain hospitals.

[tamu07]

Thanks for the response. I actually almost ended up getting a job around September, one of the children's hospitals called and wanted me, but literally that week my husband was hit with some crazy medical problems that they are still trying to diagnose (lost vision to one of his eyes, narrowed it down to some type of autoimmune disorder now) but it wasn't the time to move then. Looks like I'll be stuck here in Texas for a while until we can get his health under control. It's way too convienent to have family helping here.